December 30, 2004
Easy Street Valve Caps Stop Lost Air
For immediate release Contact: Mike Librik
12/30/04 info@easystreetrecumbents.com, 512-453-0438
Ever wondered why tires lose air if you don't keep them pumped up? Well, the people at Easy Street Recumbents are pleased to offer the latest innovation in Schrader valve caps that speaks to this problem. They now offer an alloy valve cap that has a pressure seal built into it. Since minor changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure jiggle the valves on ordinary Schrader tubes (common on bikes, automobiles, wheelbarrows, etc)., air from the tube is released over time. If you are tired of constantly topping off your tires, you cannot go wrong for just $3 per cap. Give Easy Street a call at 512-453-0438 (let it ring).
December 11, 2004
Google Gives Bent Newsgroup New Look
If you've not been to the recumbent newsgroup, alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent that Eugene Calame helped us create for the national and international recumbent community, probably eight years ago now, indeed you are missing out! It is virile and alive and now THX to the people at Google, who recently gave the interface a facelift, it is extremely easy to navigate and looks brilliant. See it at:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent
Use it to get your questions about recumbents answered. Read it for pleasure. Learn about new products, etc, etc.
Too exciting!!
December 09, 2004
Epic Hi-speed, HiWheel crash on line!
How often do most people here even see a HiWheel bicycle in action? Much less see one going down hill? Since I am riding one a lot now (it greatly increases my recumbent riding strength) and can't see myself when I am challenged by a worthy descent, even I have to admit I've never been witness to such insanity. Nor do I do them fast as the madly spinning pedals on that huge front wheel (a fixed gear) can force a discordant wobble that is unnerving at best. Nor do I so with my feet over the top of the handlebars as in let it all hang out.......
Ah, but 1984 TransAm HiWheel vet Jack Castor (SF to Boston in 44 days) does. And a film crew was there to document this excitement in November of 2001 on the south island of New Zealand as he rode the Otematata Grade. Riding a Penny Farthing that was built in Christchurch, New Zealand by Robin Willan, Jack is rumored to have reached 40 miles an hour. In fact, in the film clip ahead, so that Jack does not run into them, you can hear the videographer desperately imploring his driver to go faster, in French, with the words, "More speed, more speed". When all of a sudden Jack's tire rolls of the rim.
At six feet above the ground, his bike slides out. He hits the ground so hard that his legs cannot hold him as the force of the collision hammers him into the asphalt. In the slow motion version which amplifies every action, he looks like a lifeless rag doll, as he bounces across the road to a stop in the weed filled shoulder. I have never seen anything like this before in my life. Out loud I exclaimed "WOW" in disbelief. The fact that Jack survived with no more than cuts and bruises and dislocated joints fully astounds me.